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NOUS42 KTAE 141133
PNSTAE
FLZ007>019-026>029-034-151100-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
600 AM EST TUE FEB 14 2006

TODAY'S TOPIC FOR HAZARDOUS WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IS MARINE HAZARDS.

SINCE 1989...RIP CURRENTS ACCOUNTED FOR MORE THAN 200 DROWNINGS
ALONG THE GULF AND ATLANTIC COAST BEACHES. A RIP CURRENT...MISTAKENLY
CALLED AN UNDERTOW...IS A STRONG AND NARROW CURRENT OF WATER FLOWING
FROM THE BEACH THROUGH THE SURF ZONE. IT CAN QUICKLY CARRY A SWIMMER
INTO DEEPER WATER. IF CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...SWIM PARALLEL TO THE
SHORELINE TO ESCAPE ITS PULL. ALWAYS HEED THE ADVICE OF THE BEACH
PATROL...WATCH CHILDREN AND BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS NEAR PIERS...
JETTIES AND UNGUARDED BEACHES.

TSUNAMI...OR HARBOR WAVES...ARE GENERATED WHEN A LARGE BODY OF WATER
IS RAPIDLY MOVED...AS A RESULT OF A UNDERWATER LANDSLIDE OR
EARTHQUAKE. WAVES CAN QUICKLY SWELL UP TO GREAT HEIGHTS IN COASTAL
AREAS...TRAVEL VERY FAST...AND CAN STRIKE WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING.
THEREFORE...IT IS IMPORTANT TO HEED THE EVACUATION ORDERS OF PUBLIC
OFFICIALS AND EMERGENCY MANAGERS IF A TSUNAMI WARNING IS ISSUED.

BOATING IS A POPULAR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY. THUNDERSTORMS...WIND...
LIGHTNING AND WATERSPOUTS ALL POSE LIFE-THREATENING HAZARDS. SMART
BOATING MEANS ADVANCED PLANNING FOR ADVERSE WEATHER AND ALWAYS
WEARING A PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE. NOAA WEATHER RADIO IS THE BEST
SOURCE FOR FORECASTS...WATCHES...WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES. SOME
HELPFUL SAFETY TIPS ARE...

KNOW YOUR ESCAPE ROUTE TO SHORE IF THUNDERSTORMS THREATEN.

IF CAUGHT IN A THUNDERSTORM...REMAIN BELOW DECK AND STAY AWAY FROM
UNGROUNDED METAL OBJECTS.

CHECK THE LATEST MARINE FORECAST BEFORE DEPARTURE AND ALWAYS FILE A
FLOAT PLAN.

KNOW YOUR CRAFT'S LIMITATIONS.

HAVE A VHF MARINE BAND RADIO HANDY TO RECEIVE COAST GUARD AND NOAA
WEATHER RADIO BROADCASTS.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON HAZARDOUS WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK...
VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEB SITE AT
WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TAE...THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
AT WWW.FLORIDADISASTER.ORG...OR CONTACT YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT AGENCY.

WEDNESDAY'S TOPICS FOR HAZARDOUS WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK WILL BE
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.

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